Lipid and lipoprotein cardiovascular risk factor changes during normal pregnancy in Africans

Objectives: The study was designed to determine how pregnancy affects lipid and lipoprotein profiles among women living in a typical suburban commercial community in Africa, and to highlight the consequences of such changes. Study Design: Lipid and lipoprotein levels and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk predictor index [High density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDLC)/Total cholesterol (TC)] were evaluated in 27 African pregnant and 17 non-pregnant women of the same age and demographic profiles. Results: Total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDLC) levels increased, while HDLC level and HDLC/TC ratio decreased in the pregnant women. Conclusions: These findings suggest that African women are more prone to hyperlipidemia during normal pregnancy. The consequences of the adverse lipid and lipoprotein changes as seen in the pregnant women, on the fetal development and welfare should be explored in further studies. In general, these results have added to our understanding and knowledge of the numerous factors that could cause abnormal lipid and lipoprotein levels in African women. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.